Chapter 24
Matias stood outside the massive estate of Dmitri Ivanov. The house was a measure of the man’s over inflated ego—an ego that would eventually be his downfall.
“It’s empty,” Vincenzo called out as he emerged from the house.
“Where is he?” Bastian asked as he kicked his foot into the dirt.
“I don’t know, but Katya was definitely here. I found where she was being held.”
“Show me.” Matias pushed past Vincenzo and started up the steps.
“Wait. Matias.” Vincenzo jogged up behind him. “You need to know there is evidence of…” his voice trailed off.
“Evidence of what?”
“Look. I don’t think her stay here has been all that pleasant.”
Matias burst through the front door and raced up the stairs. Donny was standing outside the door talking with Massimo. His gut churned with what hid behind the closed door.
“Let me see.” He nodded toward Massimo, who tipped his chin toward Donny.
His heart hit the floor when he stepped through the threshold of the room.
A pile of burned clothing covered the floor.
Matias could tell it was underwear. Scanning the room, his gut told him she had been a prisoner here—a prisoner that had endured more than she deserved.
And it was all over lithium and control.
“We have to find her.” Matias picked up a discarded dress and held it to his face. He inhaled her scent and closed his eyes. “If she’s being hurt, I’ll lose her forever to the monster she calls her father.”
“I found some stuff in his office that indicates he has several more warehouses around Vegas.”
“Search them all. She has to be in one of them. When we find Jorge, he’s mine.
” Matias threw the dress to the floor and walked out.
The Silva’s may have been a nobody here in Vegas, but back home they were as feared as the Anastasi’s.
It was time to show America what happened when you attacked his family. It was time to go to war.
“Miguel is going to meet us at Bellissimo. He’ll help us search the locations.”
“The more we have helping us, the faster we will locate her.” Massimo got into his SUV and motioned for the others. Matias climbed into the backseat and slammed the door.
“I think Jorge has been hurting her.” His eyes stared at the empty mansion.
Bastian patted his arm. “You don’t know that, Matty.”
“You know I’m right. You saw that room. She was a prisoner in there. Why else would he burn her panties? He’s using her.”
“She’s strong.”
“Strong enough to come back from a hell like that?”
“She has to, doesn’t she? You love her, right?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Then prove it to her, Matty. No matter what she’s endured, be there for her. Show her you can help her overcome the demons she will have, and when we bring her home, make her your queen.”
“He’s right, you know,” Massimo spoke. “It was hell making Madison mine, but in the end, she’s the only thing that matters to me. Well, aside from my family. Nothing in the world would change how I feel about her.”
“I need to find her first.”
“We will, Matty.”
The rest of the ride to the restaurant was fairly silent. Matias was lost in his thoughts and didn’t hear Bastian calling his name.
“Matty?”
“Huh?” He glanced over at his brother. “I talked with Cristian. He said the vineyard is vacant and there is no evidence Jorge has been back. What do you want him to do with the place?”
Matias realized his brother was on the phone. “Make it ours. Have him do what he needs to in order to claim the vineyards as Silva land. Jorge will not make it back to Chile if things go as planned.”
Bastian nodded and spoke to Cristian, relaying the message from their older brother. “Alright, that’s done. Who will manage them when we return?”
“You.” Matias smiled. “You know Cristian will not want to handle anything wine related. They’ll be yours when we return home.”
Bastian grinned. “I look forward to it. And who knows,” he patted his brother’s knee. “Maybe we can hold a wedding there.”
“Yes. Maybe we can.” Matias gave a half-hearted grin. He wanted to make Katya his forever, he only hoped her demons hadn’t stolen her away from him.